How to Use Make to Automate Your Shopify Store (5 Workflows That Save 8h/Week)
Make Shopify automation is one of the highest-leverage moves a founder can make in 2026. If you’re manually exporting orders to a spreadsheet, copy-pasting tracking numbers into emails, or checking inventory counts by hand — you’re spending time a $20/month tool can handle in seconds.
Make (formerly Integromat) connects Shopify to virtually any other app in your stack — Google Sheets, Slack, Klaviyo, Gmail, Notion, Airtable — without writing a single line of code. The visual scenario builder lets you map out exactly what should happen, when, and to what data.
This guide covers 5 Make workflows for Shopify that collectively save founders 8 hours per week. Each workflow includes the exact trigger, actions, and setup steps. If you’re building out a broader AI automation strategy for your Shopify store, Make is one of the first tools you should configure.
No coding. No developer. Just your Shopify store connected to the tools you already use.
What Is Make and Why Use It With Shopify?
Make is a visual workflow automation platform. You build “scenarios” — sequences of triggers and actions that run automatically. A trigger is something that happens (a new order, a low inventory alert, a form submission). An action is what Make does in response (send an email, update a sheet, create a task).
Make vs Zapier for Shopify
Most founders start with Zapier. It’s simpler but limited — each “Zap” is linear (one trigger, one action). Make supports multi-step, branching logic with filters, routers, and iterators. That flexibility is what makes it powerful for e-commerce workflows that involve conditions (“if order value > $100, do X; else do Y”).
| Feature | Make | Zapier |
|---|---|---|
| Visual scenario builder | ✅ Full canvas | ❌ Linear only |
| Conditional logic (filters/routers) | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Paid add-on |
| Operations/month (free tier) | 1,000 | 100 |
| Entry paid plan | $9/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Shopify integration depth | Full (orders, products, customers, inventory) | Full |
| Multi-step scenarios | ✅ Unlimited | ⚠️ Limited on free |
For Shopify stores with more than 3 apps in their stack, Make’s pricing and flexibility win clearly. The free tier (1,000 operations/month) is enough to test all 5 workflows below before committing to a paid plan.
💡 Make’s free plan covers up to 1,000 operations/month — enough to run all 5 workflows below on a store doing under 30 orders/day. Start free at make.com.
5 Make Workflows for Shopify That Save 8h/Week
These workflows are ordered by time saved and setup simplicity. Start with Workflow 1 — it takes 15 minutes to build and saves most founders 2-3 hours per week immediately.
Workflow 1 — New Order → Google Sheets Log (2h/week saved)
Order Logging Automation
Trigger: New order placed in Shopify
Time to build: 15 minutes | Operations used: 1 per order
STEP 1Shopify module → Watch Orders (trigger fires on every new order)
STEP 2Google Sheets module → Add a Row (map: order ID, customer name, email, total, items, shipping address, date)
STEP 3Optional: Slack module → Send message to #orders channel with order summary
Why it matters: Manual order logging is the #1 time sink for Shopify founders processing 20-50 orders/day. This workflow builds your order database automatically — ready for weekly reporting, refund tracking, or accountant exports.
Workflow 2 — Low Inventory Alert → Slack + Reorder Draft (1.5h/week saved)
Inventory Alert Automation
Trigger: Shopify inventory level drops below threshold (scheduled check every 6 hours)
Time to build: 25 minutes | Operations used: 4-8/day
STEP 1Shopify module → Get Inventory Levels (scheduled trigger, runs every 6 hours)
STEP 2Filter → Only continue if inventory_quantity < 10 (set your threshold)
STEP 3Slack module → Send alert to #inventory: “LOW STOCK: [Product Name] — [X] units remaining”
STEP 4Google Sheets module → Log low-stock product to reorder tracker
Why it matters: Stockouts cost the average Shopify store 4-8% of monthly revenue. This workflow catches low inventory before it becomes a problem — without you having to check Shopify every day.
Workflow 3 — Abandoned Cart → Personalized Email Sequence (2h/week saved)
Abandoned Cart Recovery Automation
Trigger: Shopify checkout created but no order placed within 1 hour
Time to build: 40 minutes | Operations used: 2-3 per abandoned cart
STEP 1Shopify module → Watch Abandoned Checkouts
STEP 2Router → Branch A: cart value > $75 (send discount email) / Branch B: cart value ≤ $75 (send reminder email)
STEP 3Gmail/Klaviyo module → Send personalized recovery email with cart contents and customer name
STEP 4Wait 24 hours → Send follow-up if still no order
Why it matters: The average Shopify cart abandonment rate is 70%. A well-timed recovery email sequence recovers 5-15% of those carts. For a store doing $30K/month, that’s $1,050-$3,150 in recovered revenue — automated. For a deeper dive into AI-powered cart recovery tools, see our guide on the best AI tools for Shopify stores.
Workflow 4 — New Customer → CRM Tag + Welcome Sequence Trigger (1h/week saved)
Customer Onboarding Automation
Trigger: New customer created in Shopify (first order placed)
Time to build: 30 minutes | Operations used: 3 per new customer
STEP 1Shopify module → Watch Customers (filter: orders_count = 1)
STEP 2Klaviyo module → Add subscriber to “New Customers” list + trigger welcome flow
STEP 3Google Sheets module → Add customer to CRM tracker (name, email, first order value, product category)
STEP 4Slack module → Notify team: “New customer: [Name] — First order: $[Amount]”
This workflow ensures every new customer enters your email sequence immediately — not 24 hours later when you manually export the list. First-purchase follow-up within 1 hour has a 3x higher open rate than delayed sequences.
Workflow 5 — Refund Requested → Ticket + Tracking Sheet Update (1.5h/week saved)
Refund Management Automation
Trigger: Refund created in Shopify
Time to build: 20 minutes | Operations used: 2 per refund
STEP 1Shopify module → Watch Refunds
STEP 2Google Sheets module → Log refund (order ID, customer, amount, reason, date)
STEP 3Slack module → Alert #support: “Refund processed: [Order #] — $[Amount] — Reason: [refund_note]”
Tracking refund reasons manually is how most founders discover product issues weeks too late. This workflow gives you a real-time refund log that reveals patterns — and that data feeds directly into better product and support decisions. If you’re looking for tools to handle the support side automatically, our comparison of AI chatbots for Shopify covers how to automate the response layer too.
How to Set Up Make With Shopify: Step-by-Step
Setup takes under 30 minutes for your first workflow. Here’s the exact process.
Step 1: Connect Shopify to Make
- Create a free Make account at make.com
- Click Create a new scenario
- Search for “Shopify” in the module library
- Click Add connection → enter your Shopify store URL and API credentials
- In Shopify Admin: Apps → App and sales channel settings → Develop apps → Create an app → generate API key with read/write permissions on Orders, Products, Customers, Inventory
- Paste the API key into Make → connection confirmed
Step 2: Build Your First Scenario
- Choose a Shopify trigger module (e.g., “Watch Orders”)
- Add action modules by clicking the + button
- Map data fields by clicking on them in the module setup
- Click Run once to test with real data
- Toggle the scenario ON to activate
Step 3: Set the Schedule
Most Shopify triggers in Make run on a polling schedule (every 15 minutes on free, every 5 minutes on paid). For order-based workflows, 15-minute polling is fine. For inventory alerts, set a custom schedule (every 6 hours saves operations).
💡 Make’s free plan gives you 1,000 operations/month. A store doing 20 orders/day running all 5 workflows uses approximately 400-500 operations/month — well within the free tier. Get started free →
Time Saved: What 8 Hours/Week Actually Looks Like
| Workflow | Manual Time/Week | With Make | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order logging | 2h | 0 min | 2h |
| Inventory checks | 1.5h | 0 min | 1.5h |
| Abandoned cart follow-up | 2h | 0 min | 2h |
| New customer onboarding | 1h | 0 min | 1h |
| Refund tracking | 1.5h | 0 min | 1.5h |
| Total | 8h | ~20 min setup | 8h/week |
At $75/hour in founder time, 8 hours/week = $2,400/month recovered. Make’s paid plan starts at $9/month. The ROI math is straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Make good for Shopify automation?
Yes. Make has a native Shopify integration that covers orders, products, customers, inventory, and fulfillment. Its visual scenario builder and conditional logic (routers, filters) make it more powerful than simpler tools like Zapier for complex e-commerce workflows. The free tier (1,000 operations/month) is enough for small stores to automate their core workflows.
Do I need to know how to code to use Make with Shopify?
No. Make is a no-code platform. You build scenarios by dragging and dropping modules and mapping data fields visually. The most complex part is setting up the Shopify API connection — which takes about 10 minutes following Make’s guided setup.
How much does Make cost for Shopify automation?
Make’s free plan includes 1,000 operations/month and 2 active scenarios. For most Shopify stores doing under 30 orders/day, the free plan is sufficient to run the 5 workflows in this guide. The Core paid plan starts at $9/month and includes 10,000 operations and unlimited active scenarios.
What is the difference between Make and Shopify Flow?
Shopify Flow automates workflows within Shopify (tagging orders, hiding products, sending internal alerts). Make connects Shopify to external apps — Google Sheets, Slack, Klaviyo, Gmail, Notion. They complement each other: use Flow for internal Shopify logic and Make for cross-app automation. See our full guide on automating your Shopify store with AI for a complete breakdown.
How many operations does Make use per Shopify order?
Each module action in a scenario counts as one operation. A 3-step order workflow (Shopify trigger → Sheets row → Slack message) uses 3 operations per order. A store doing 20 orders/day running that workflow uses 60 operations/day — 1,800/month, which requires Make’s Core plan at $9/month.
Bottom Line
Make is the most cost-effective automation tool for Shopify founders who want to connect their stack without hiring a developer. The 5 workflows above cover the most time-intensive manual tasks — order logging, inventory alerts, cart recovery, customer onboarding, and refund tracking.
Start with Workflow 1 (order logging). It takes 15 minutes, runs automatically from day one, and immediately shows you how Make works. Once that’s live, add one workflow per week until all 5 are running.
8 hours/week recovered. $9/month. That’s the ROI of getting serious about automation.
Ready to automate your Shopify store with Make?
→ Start free at make.com — 1,000 operations/month, no credit card required
→ For your full automation strategy: How to Automate Your Shopify Store with AI
→ See all tools in the stack: Best AI Tools for Shopify in 2026
